Ontario West Shore Railway
Encyclopedia
The Ontario West Shore Railway is a historic Canadian
railway that operated in Ontario
.
The company started construction on a railway line between Goderich
and Kincardine
in the early 1900s, however the line was never completed. The company's president was J. W. Moyes of Toronto, Ontario. Moyes was neither wealthy nor a railroad man.
for $50,000, the township of Ashfield for $50,000 and $25,000 each from Colbourne and West Wawanosh townships.
The initial scheme was to build a railroad from Goderich to Dunlop. From Dunlop, the line was to branch to Amberley and Dungannon. A third branch would be built from Saltford
to Blyth
. Freight and daily passenger service would operate on all lines.
Each municipality held a vote on the scheme. Goderich approved the $50,000 investment, while the townships rejected the plan.
In 1908, work on the track is started in Port Albert. By the end of summer 1911, the railroad was completed from Goderich to Kintail. At that point, one car of freight per day, mostly grain, as being loaded along the track.
In January, 1912, the company defaulted on their bonds to the municipalities. The line was never completed.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
railway that operated in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
The company started construction on a railway line between Goderich
Goderich, Ontario
Goderich is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario and is the county seat of Huron County. The town was founded by William "Tiger" Dunlop in 1827. First laid out in 1828, the town is named after Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich, who was British prime minister at the time. The town...
and Kincardine
Kincardine, Ontario
The Municipality of Kincardine is located on the shores of Lake Huron in the County of Bruce in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has a population of 12,000, and covers an area of 580 square kilometres...
in the early 1900s, however the line was never completed. The company's president was J. W. Moyes of Toronto, Ontario. Moyes was neither wealthy nor a railroad man.
Huron, Bruce and Grey Electric Railway
In 1902, Moyes incorporated the Huron, Bruce and Grey Electric Railway then proceeded to lobby local municipalities for capital. He asked the town of GoderichGoderich, Ontario
Goderich is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario and is the county seat of Huron County. The town was founded by William "Tiger" Dunlop in 1827. First laid out in 1828, the town is named after Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich, who was British prime minister at the time. The town...
for $50,000, the township of Ashfield for $50,000 and $25,000 each from Colbourne and West Wawanosh townships.
The initial scheme was to build a railroad from Goderich to Dunlop. From Dunlop, the line was to branch to Amberley and Dungannon. A third branch would be built from Saltford
Saltford, Ontario
Saltford is a small unincorporated community in Ontario, Canada located at the intersection of Highway 21 and Saltford Road, on the north bank of the Maitland River in the township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh just north of Goderich. In early 1866, local entrepreneur Samuel Platt discovered the...
to Blyth
Blyth, Ontario
Blyth is a community in the municipality of North Huron, Huron County, Ontario, Canada. It is located southwest of the town of Wingham on Huron Road 4 and geographically south of the town of Lucknow....
. Freight and daily passenger service would operate on all lines.
Each municipality held a vote on the scheme. Goderich approved the $50,000 investment, while the townships rejected the plan.
Goderich to Kincardine
In 1906, after the company has been renamed the Ontario West Shore Railway, the municipalities provide funding for a single line extending from Goderich to Kincardine. Goderich commits $150,000, Kincardine $50,000, and the townships commit money as well.In 1908, work on the track is started in Port Albert. By the end of summer 1911, the railroad was completed from Goderich to Kintail. At that point, one car of freight per day, mostly grain, as being loaded along the track.
In January, 1912, the company defaulted on their bonds to the municipalities. The line was never completed.